Subsea Clamp Tensioning System
The disclosed subsea clamp tensioning system includes predictability of gasket pre-load to input closure and allows a subsea clamp tensioning system to be closed and made-up without the hindrance of frictional loads that will cause a loss of tension in a drive screw. In an embodiment, the subsea clamp tensioning system tensions the drive screw by applying a set torque load into an API class torque bucket which translates into an applied tension at the drive screw. The tension load on the drive screw applies the gasket pre-load required to create a metal-to-metal seal between the two clamp hubs. Once complete and tested, the subsea clamp tensioning system may be removed and mounted onto a connector tool for retrieval to the surface.
Latest Oceaneering International, Inc. Patents:
This application claims the benefit of, and priority through, U.S. Provisional Application 62/135,947, titled “Subsea Clamp Tensioning System,” filed Mar. 20, 2015.
BACKGROUNDTensioner system are known in the art but hazards of using them include a buildup of unpredictably frictional loads created by thread and sliding frictions in the torqueing process. Standard torque systems lack predictability of gasket pre-load to input closure (tensioning and torqueing).
Various figures are included herein which illustrate aspects of embodiments of the disclosed invention.
Referring to
Subsea clamp tensioning system 1 comprises housing 20; collar 30 dimensioned to fit about housing 20, where collar 30 comprises a plurality of offset channels 31; a set of adjusters 33 (
Housing 20 typically comprises interior void 21 (
Tension grip stop 12 may be disposed proximate second housing end 13 and may further be disposed at least partially within interior void 21 (
Referring more to
Although tension grip 40 may comprise any appropriate shape, it typically comprises a substantially trapezoidally shaped tension grip.
Nut runner 50 may further comprise one or more gears 51, typically a bevel gear, which is operatively in communication with subsea hydraulic motor 10. Nut runner 50 typically comprises nut 54, operatively connected to subsea hydraulic motor 10, and preferably further comprises grooves dimensioned to cooperatively engage with corresponding threads in tubular 100. Nut 54 is typically rotationally disposed within nut runner 50.
One or more seals 53 may disposed within housing interior void 21 and be operatively in occlusive communication with nut runner 50.
In contemplated embodiments, referring additionally to
In the operation of an exemplary method, subsea clamp tensioning system 1 is positioned about tubular 100, where subsea clamp tensioning system 1 is as described above. Using the set of adjusters 33 (
A nut spinning function of subsea clamp tensioning system 1 may be automated by having collar handle 32 utilize subsea hydraulic motor 10 to draw two clamp sections together around the hubs (not shown in the figures) after a set of connection tools (not shown in the figures) have brought the hubs face-to-face. The two subsea clamp tensioning systems 1 may be aligned during this process using receivers 17 and corresponding guides 16 and their opposing ends secured using tension grip stops 12.
As subsea clamp tensioning system 1 is activated, nut runner 50 is allowed to continue to spin nut 54 to mechanically lock subsea clamp tensioning system 1 such as by engaging and advancing threads on tubular 100. Typically, final clamp tension is created by making up tension via the built-in hydraulic piston load to create the desired gasket pre-load.
Further, collar handle 32 is typically allowed to snug adjusters 33 as subsea clamp tensioning system 1 is activated, e.g. by using adjusters 33 to advance one or more tension grips 40 against tubular 100.
Once the operation is completed and tested, subsea clamp tensioning system 1 may be removed. It may also then be mounted onto a connector tool for retrieval to the surface.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the inventions are illustrative and explanatory. Various changes in the size, shape, and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrative construction and/or an illustrative method may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A subsea clamp tensioning system, comprising:
- a. a housing comprising: i. an interior void dimensioned to accept a tubular therethrough; ii. a first end; and iii. a second end disposed opposite the first end;
- b. a collar dimensioned to fit about the housing, the collar comprising a plurality of offset channels;
- c. a plurality of tension grips movingly disposed within the interior void, each tension grip comprising a tension grip channel;
- d. a set of adjusters corresponding to the plurality of offset channels, each adjuster comprising: i. an upper portion configured to be larger in a dimension than the offset channel such that the offset channel prohibits travel of the upper portion into the interior void; ii. a middle portion connected to the upper portion and dimensioned to travel through the offset channel into the interior void; iii. a lower portion connected to the middle portion, the lower portion engagable with the tension grip; and iv. a spring disposed about a predetermined length of the middle portion;
- e. a subsea hydraulic motor; and
- f. a nut runner disposed within a portion of the interior void and dimensioned to accept and engage the tubular, the nut runner operatively in communication with the subsea hydraulic motor, the nut runner dimensioned to accept a tubular therethrough.
2. The subsea clamp tensioning system of claim 1, further comprising a tension grip stop disposed proximate the second housing end.
3. The subsea clamp tensioning system of claim 2, wherein the tension grip stop is disposed at least partially within the interior void.
4. The subsea clamp tensioning system of claim 1, wherein each tension grip further comprises a substantially trapezoidally shaped tension grip.
5. The subsea clamp tensioning system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of offset channels is associated with a tension grip of the plurality of tension grips.
6. The subsea clamp tensioning system of claim 1, further comprising a tension grip housing disposed at least partially within the interior void, each tension grip pivotally mounted within the tension grip housing at an end of the tension grip closest to the first end.
7. The subsea clamp tensioning system of claim 6, wherein:
- a. the interior void further comprises a housing wall disposed intermediate the first end and the second end, the housing wall comprising a housing wall port; and
- b. the tension grip housing further comprises: i. a first end dimensioned to partially fit through the housing wall port; ii. an second end disposed opposite the first end, the second end defining a tension grip housing stop; and iii. a stop spring disposed between the tension grip stop and the tension grip housing stop.
8. The subsea clamp tensioning system of claim 7, wherein the nut runner further comprises a gear operatively in communication with the subsea hydraulic motor.
9. The subsea clamp tensioning system of claim 8, wherein the gear further comprises a bevel gear.
10. The subsea clamp tensioning system of claim 8, further comprising a seal disposed within the housing interior void and operatively in occlusive communication with the nut runner.
11. he subsea clamp tensioning system of claim 1, wherein the nut runner further comprises a nut operatively connected to the subsea hydraulic motor.
12. The subsea clamp tensioning system of claim 11, wherein the nut further comprises grooves dimensioned to cooperatively engage with corresponding threads in the tubular.
13. The subsea clamp tensioning system of claim 11, wherein the nut is rotationally disposed within the nut runner.
14. A method, comprising:
- a. positioning a plurality of subsea clamp tensioning systems about a tubular, each subsea clamp tensioning system comprising: i. a housing, comprising: 1. an interior void dimensioned to accept the tubular therethrough; 2. a first end; and 3. a second end disposed opposite the first end; ii. a collar dimensioned to fit about the housing, the collar comprising a plurality of offset channels; iii. a plurality of tension grips corresponding to the plurality of offset channels, each tension grip movingly disposed within the interior void, each tension grip comprising an tension grip channel; iv. a set of adjusters corresponding to the plurality of offset channels, each adjuster comprising: 1. an upper portion configured to be larger in a dimension than the offset channel such that the offset channel prohibits travel of the upper portion into the interior void; 2. a middle portion connected to the upper portion and dimensioned to travel into the interior void; 3. a lower portion connected to the middle portion, the lower portion engagable with the tension grip; and 4. a spring disposed about a predetermined length of the connected to the middle portion; v. a subsea hydraulic motor; vi. a nut runner disposed within a portion of the interior void and dimensioned to accept and engage the tubular, the nut runner operatively in communication with the subsea hydraulic motor, the nut runner dimensioned to accept a tubular therethrough; and vii. a nut operatively in communication with the nut runner;
- b. using the set of adjusters to advance the plurality of tension grips against the tubular by pulling each of the adjusters as opposed to turning to create a desired tension;
- c. having the nut runner utilize the subsea hydraulic motor to draw the subsea clamp tensioning systems;
- d. as the subsea clamp tensioning system is activated, allowing the nut runner to continue to spin the nut to provide a mechanical lock of the clamp;
- e. creating final clamp tension by making up tension via a built-in hydraulic piston load to create the desired gasket pre-load in the connector; and
- f. allowing the nut runner to snug the nut in as the subsea clamp tensioning system is activated.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising removing the subsea clamp tensioning system from the tubular once complete and tested.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 19, 2016
Publication Date: Sep 22, 2016
Patent Grant number: 10107418
Applicant: Oceaneering International, Inc. (Houston, TX)
Inventor: Kenneth Lane Rice (Austin, TX)
Application Number: 15/075,140